PATTERSON — Last November marked five years in business for the Family Dollar store on Catherine Street. But the store was open for only a couple of months more.
A fire, which authorities said was started the night of Jan. 1 by a 12-year-old boy for no reason they could determine, closed the store for the next eight months while repairs were underway. The store that now employs five people again was out of action, and neighbors hit hard by a local economic downturn lost a place to buy groceries and inexpensive household items.
Large sheets of plywood covered the big display windows, one of them only a few feet from a metal cage holding propane bottles that customers could exchange for empties.
But Family Dollar is back. The store re-opened Thursday, and a grand opening celebration is planned for Aug. 9-11.
Manager Christine Hanson of Baldwin was behind the counter after lunch Thursday, ringing up the purchases for a few customers and fielding a compliment from one woman about the store’s new layout. Hanson said later that the store was renovated using a new generation plan designed to add convenience for customers.
“Family Dollar is pleased to invite customers to experience our great value and broad assortment of merchandise in the Patterson community,” said Heather Briganti, a Family Dollar spokesperson, in a press release.”
On Thursday and Friday, Aug. 9 and 10, the first 50 customers will get reusable bags. Visitors will be able to sample chocolate chip cookies.
During the course of the celebration there will be gift-card giveaways and raffles for gift baskets — a movie collection that includes DVDs and popcorn; a laundry collection with items such as detergent and stain remover; and a baby collection with diapers and other useful items.
On Friday, Aug. 10, it will be monster truck time 9-11 a.m. with a chance to try Monster Drinks.
The store will be open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays.
The 12-year-old believed to have started the fire was charged with aggravated arson. He didn’t tell authorities why he started the fire, said Brant Thompson, chief deputy with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They believe he “introduced an open flame to ordinary combustibles” he found on one of the aisles in the store.
No one was injured in the fire.